Misha in Sweden: Row Your Boat

My second to last week in Sweden was spent down south, celebrating a graduation and enjoying time on the water with my host family.

My host mom's youngest daughter, Ida, graduated from three years of high school at a maritime school in a town down south. After my last day of school, we drove down to Eva's mother's summer house and relaxed before the big party the next day. The house was straight across the road from the ocean which, as a native New Mexican, was incredibly exciting.

In Sweden, high school graduations are an even bigger celebration bringing together friends and family from all over. The traditions seem strange, but what is usual is for the students, dressed in white dresses and fancy suits with their special hats, run out of their high schools cheering and blowing whistles to basically make as much noise as they can. As they run they will find their parents and family who gathered to see the party, holding big signs with the student's baby picture serving as background to a huge congratulations and name. They find each other, take pictures, and then the student goes back to his or her class and, in the case of Gothenburg, will drive around in big trucks dancing and drinking and causing havoc. It's all such chaos and noise until later when the student will come back to an intimate party with lots of food and care put on by his or her family. Friends, family, neighbors and more come to celebrate the single student and an afternoon of laughter, heart-warming speeches, presents and food ensues until the student typically meets up with his or her class again to party the night away and celebrate the new freedom.

The amount of love and care put into everything by those gathered for the sole purpose of supporting a loved one is wonderful. A huge rain storm came exactly when the students were scheduled to run out of the school, so everyone crammed into the courtyard and the students paused, dancing, on the steps of the building before running out to meet their family in the crowd. I have to say it was miserable to huddle underneath an umbrella, standing in a puddle with your nice shoes, and avoiding touching the other wet, expectant folks. After Ida came to see us, we drove to the party destination and prepared everything. Apart from the food, my favorite part of the party were the lovely speeches given. Hearing grandparents, aunts and friends talk so highly of Ida was so beautiful and I realized I would take this sort of graduation party over any other.

Our vacation really started after the graduation party. I went out on a row boat with Lars and Erlend (I even rowed a little while, imagine that!) and we played mini golf and lawn games together in between eating party left overs. It was relaxing and I loved spending some quality times with my host brothers. A source of great amusement to me was getting to meet Eva's side of the family. They were so funny and interesting to talk to. It feels like now that I have met as much extended family as I have, it's a successful year!

We left for our canoe trip on Monday. Two canoes and one kayak were packed with sleeping bags and food for the coming week before being pushed off into the backs of a river in Småland, an area to the bottom right corner of the country. It was absolutely beautiful. Green beyond your wildest dreams with water stretching out far from shore to shore. It was my first time in a canoe, so I loved the idea of paddling away to adventure and discovery with my host brother right beside me. Our trip lasted for four days, four blissful days of sunshine and clouds, wind and waves. We would stop for lunch at various spots before heading out to find a place to camp for the rest of the night. One of my favorite spots was the second night. We shared the lot with a group of Germans on a Christian camp trip. They were friendly and spoke very little English, save it were the leader. Once we got the tent up, my brothers and I sat and talked, ignorant to what was going on outside. As it got later we heard the Germans playing guitar and singing softly amongst themselves. Impulsively, Erlend and I stepped out into the fresh air and the first thing that hit me was the gorgeous sunset that we had been missing. It was breathtaking, with pinks and purples and oranges reflecting off the water. We sat down with the Germans and they welcomed us. We all sang together around the camp fire while the sun disappeared behind us. I went to sleep that night so happy I had stepped out when I did.